Alliance agencies gain funding as United Way successfully reaches $7.1 million campaign goal

By laurie huffmanThe Review Published: March 28, 2013 3:00 AM

"We were thrilled to announce at the recent United Way Annual Meeting and Campaign Awards ceremony that United Way of Greater Stark County met its $7.1 million campaign goal for 2012-13," said Sarah Hayden, vice president of marketing and communications. "We were in the 11th hour of our campaign and still hadn't reached our goal. Then, two days before our annual meeting, we realized it had become a reality."

Maria Heege, president and CEO of the organization, had this to add, "Volunteers and staff continued to work behind the scenes following the end of the public campaign in December of last year. Through their efforts during the first quarter of this year, contributions continued to stream in until we reached goal. I am grateful to our caring donors for reaching out to help their neighbors. Not only do gifts make the lives of others safer and healthier, donations have the power to give hope for a better tomorrow, " Heege concluded.

On Sunday, the annual campaign will officially close at the end of United Way's fiscal year. Donations are still being accepted. Anyone interested in joining the effort to give a boost to those in need within the greater community may contact the finance department at 330-491-9958 or donate online by visiting www.ustark.org and then clicking on the "give" button.

On Wednesday, United Way of Greater Stark County announced investments to 109 health and human service programs through 41 funded partners across the county on Wednesday, including several in Alliance. The 2013-14 program allocations represent the first year of a two-year funding cycle, and is budgeted at $4,640,222.

Funding was recommended by an all-volunteer citizen review and approval process to ensure criteria is met, such as how closely the program aligned with United Way's outcome standards in the building block areas of education, family & financial stability and health and basic needs, the funded partners' ability to deliver services and other criteria.

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"We are very grateful our Impact Council volunteers have given many hours to United Way's citizen review process," said Heege. "Donors are counting on us to make prudent and wise investments with their donations, and thoughtful leadership by dedicated community volunteers ensures funding is being allocated to its potential. And, to further community resources, United Way will continue to work as a convener, inviting other funders and key stakeholders to collaborate on the best way to get help to people in our community."

Some of the Alliance area agencies that received funding include the Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter, Allliance Community Pantry, Alliance Area Rape Crisis Program, SPARK Alliance, the Salvation Army of Alliance, the YMCA and the YWCA.

Of the $7.1 million United Way set out to collect in donations, $6,083,095 will be distributed during the 2013-2014 period.

In addition to annual allocations totalling $4,640,222, $192,387 will go to strategic initiatives, $823,162 to direct services, $427,324 to donor designated pledges, $529,407 to administration costs, $596,387 to fundraising efforts, and $209,387 is projected to be taken in lost pledges.